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(Nu Model.) 1 y I. IEILl/IARS'HALL.

SHIPPING CRATE.

' No. 512,731; Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

IANTI-IUS EMLEN MARSHALL, OF MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT Y. \VERNER SHIPPING-CRATE.

,SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,731, dated January 16, 1894. Application filed May 26, 1893; 7 Serial No. 475,551. (No model.)

. T at whom it may concern:

of construction as will be hereinafter more' fully set forth and described.

The object of my invention is to provide a shipping crate which maybe quicklyand eas- 11y folded together or closed when not required for the transportation of poultry, thus permitting the same, when empty, to be folded together and packed one upon theother in order that they may occupy the least amount of room, thus creating a great saving in freight, when the crates are reshipped to the owner thereof, from the commission merchant, for the reason that a greater number may be placed in the car.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this app1ication,wl1erein similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the entire specification and several views, F gured, is a perspective view of the crate. Fig. 2, 1s a cross-sectional. view taken on line :ra; Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a broken detail view, showing one of the covers raised.

The letter A, indicates the bottom of my crate, to which are fastened the upwardly proectinglongitudinalsidesills A, A Between these sills I movably secure, by hinges or otherwise, the ends of the crate, which consists of an open frame composed of top and bottom str1ps, a, a, united by side pieces or strips 5, b, the lower ends of the side strips projecting below bottom strip a so as to form ears 19 through which passes the rod B, the ends of which project within holes formed in ends of the sills A, A This rod B, forms the fastenlng for the movable ends of the crate, although the same may be hinged to the bottom A. To

the side sills I fasten the open side frames,

composed of the strips B, B connected by vertical pieces 0. The upper ends of said vertical pieces project beyond strips B B as shown. These side frames are connected to the sills by inwardly swinging hinges c. The open end and side frames are strengthened by means of the wire or iron rods 0, which rods are placed such a distance apart as will prevent the escape of fowls therebetween. If so desired the open frames may be closed by wire gauze, instead of wire or iron rods. The crate is closed by two covers, D, D, each consisting of longitudinal and end pieces, d, d. The end pieces project beyond the longitudinal pieces, thus forming ears 01 which are movably secured between projecting ends of vertical pieces 0, by means of the pins or bolts e. However, if so desired the covers may be hinged directly to strips 13'. These covers when closed as shown in Fig. 1, fit between the hinged ends of the crate and prevent the same from moving inward. In order to prevent the downward movement of the covers, I secure to ends of longitudinal pieces d, the plate e,- the outer end of which is flanged downward so as to clasp the cross or top piece a, of the ends, as shown. The covers I strengthen by placing between the longitudinal pieces the block E, E. WVhen the covers are closed the crate is locked by means of the cam F, fastened to under face of block E. From this cam projects the rods fif, which extend the entire length of the crate, passing through end strips 01, of cover D, and into sockets cut within top piece'a, of the ends. From this cam projects the pin f which extends through block E, and is held in place by hasp F, which fits over staple g, and is secured thereon by key 9', although a pad-lock may beused for this purpose. This hasp as thrown to the right or left causes the cam to turn likewise, which moves the rods f, f in or out of locked engagement with the ends of the crate.

When it is desired to ship the crate empty, the same is packed in a knock-down condition. For this purpose the covers are thrown over or raised, which permits the ends to fall inward and lie upon the bottom. The sides are then-turnedinward until they rest u on? the ends,andthe cover D, swung over upon its connected side, after which cover D, is allowed to fall thereover. The folded crate is then locked or tied together.

It will be noticed that eachpart of the crate is ofthe cam andadapted to engage the ends of the crate,a.:hasp pivotedto the upper end of the fulcrum pin of the cam and adapted to engage over a staple on the opposite cover, and

a locking pin inserted through said staple above said hasp.

2. In a crate, the combination of the bottom having longitudinal side sills, the ends arranged between the side sills and having derqn ns eatsenrtheir mm dg p votod inserted transversely through said ears and the ends of the side sills, open sides hinged to the upper edges of the side sills, resting ;against the-ends and provided with ears on their upper edges, open covers pivoted to and between said ears and bearing against the in- ,ner taces of; the sides atthe top thereof, and clasping plates secured to the ends of the covers and engaging over the upper edges of the ends and holding the same. M r In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence: of two witnesses. i 3 IANTHUS EMLEN MARSHALL.

Witnesses: i a

IsIDoR SELIG,-- WILLIAM S. WELLS. 

